The last week or so I've noticed my car idiling rough when in 1st or 2d gear. Today I got stuck in a traffic jam at the mall and my car began idiling much rougher while stopped. The day was warm and I had the air on....
Well actually a hour or so earlier I notcied my air was coming on...i'd pushed the air on off buttons a few times and sooner or later it would kick in....when I left the mall the air again was not working...this time playing with the on off button had no effect (probably had no effect the other times)...I didnt think much about it...last year when it got real hot occasionally the sensor wouldnt read right and it would not come on for awhile on really hot summer days....I got off the freeway after climbing a steep hill and noticed my temp gauge all the way at HIGH. I freaked...I have no idea how long it was like that.
I just had the air conditioner serviced and fixed including replacing a sensor last summer.
The car has 146K miles...I seem to have a little valve clacking...a whole lot of pinging or knocking...what ever causes that...would any of those problems be related to the enginge gauge showing over heating today or is this a symtom of something else?

Can anyone tell me what might be some of the causes for the temp gauge hitting high today?

If anyone can tell me a little about what causes knocking and pinging Id apprciate that too. Can it be fixed? The car is so noisy I drive holding my breath wating for it to die any minute.

it could be a few different things....
-check oil level
-check coolant level
-check for coolant leaks
-REPLACE THERMOSTAT

Thanks. It turns out I was out of coolant as you suggested,had a radiator leak and a bad water pump.




it could be a few different things....
-check oil level
-check coolant level
-check for coolant leaks
-REPLACE THERMOSTAT

and the pinging you descibe is probably just valves needing to be aligned, it's a maintaince item..

could also be predetination, try running some premium fuel and see if the pinging stops or lessens.